Three presentations dealt with the role of microfinance credit in the mitigation of HIV/AIDS – in Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. These schemes contributed to community development as well as empowerment of PLHWA by enhancing their economic independence.

Some of the key lessons were:

• Credit provision and income generation schemes need to be accompanied by other interventions such as provision of basic care and support and improving food security.
• Microfinance schemes may not always work in extremely poor settings.
• Often one loan is not enough and it has to be followed up especially with loan sizes often being too small.

A key finding by these schemes were that the most effective use of microfinance credit is by women.

A presenter put it eloquently “Improve the income of a woman – you improve the income of a family and you improve the income of a nation”.

There was a presentation on the effectiveness of government based income support programs for unemployed PLWHA in Canada. While they are entitled to a range of benefits, many are unable to access it because of widespread discrimination. There is also the additional challenge that HIV is unlike other disabilities – you may be ill for a period but well enough to work after that, so it is harder to persuade the officials of your eligibility.

The other presentation argued that 100% multi-lateral debt relief is the most effective form of debt relief – which can contribute to the fight against AIDS.

Current debt relief initiatives are clearly inadequate and the presenters put forward a case that Africa’s debt in particular was a shared responsibility. Their recommendations were:

• Finance the debt relief through sales of IMF gold
• Transfer the debt savings into a transparent fund
• Set up an independent monitoring body to overcome governance issues and encourage national ownership and accountability.